Matthew Gerald Kennedy, shown at Dartmouth provincial court Wednesday, is charged with criminal negligence causing death and failing to stop at the scene of a fatal car-pedestrian collision Feb. 22. – Steve Bruce

A preliminary inquiry will be held in December for a Bedford man charged in a fatal car-pedestrian collision in Dartmouth last winter.

Gary Rogers, 57, died Feb. 22 after he was struck by a vehicle while crossing Pleasant Street at about 5:50 a.m.

Matthew Gerald Kennedy, 25, is accused of criminal negligence causing death and failing to stop at the scene of a fatal accident.

Kennedy, who has elected to be tried by a Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge alone, appeared in Dartmouth provincial court Wednesday to set dates for a preliminary inquiry.

Judge Alanna Murphy scheduled the hearing for four days beginning Dec. 17.

The inquiry will determine whether there is sufficient evidence for Kennedy to be committed to stand trial on the criminal negligence charge. The defence is not contesting committal on the other charge.

Kennedy was a radio and television student at the Nova Scotia Community College’s Ivany campus in Dartmouth at the time of the incident. He was arrested that afternoon after someone saw a vehicle that appeared to have been involved in the collision.

Kennedy was released from custody Feb. 25 on a $1,500 recognizance. He must remain in Nova Scotia, live at a residence on Stoneridge Court in Bedford, follow an 11 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew and cannot apply for a passport.

He’s also prohibited from being in the driver’s seat of any vehicle but has applied to have that clause removed from his bail conditions.

The Crown is opposed to Kennedy’s request, which was supposed to be heard Wednesday but was postponed for two weeks because of the busy docket.